By Robert D. Thomas
Music Critic
Pasadena Star-News/San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Whittier Daily
News
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Each Thursday morning, I list five events that
peak my interest, including (ideally) at least one with free admission (or, at
a minimum, inexpensive tickets). Here’s today’s grouping:
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Tonight, tomorrow
and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles
Philharmonic and Los Angeles Master Chorale; Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; Lelia Josefowicz, violin
In the second installment of the Phil’s season-ending “Brahms
Unbound” series, Dudamel leads the orchestra and violinist Leila Josefowicz in Stephen Mackey’s Beautiful
Passing, paired with Brahms’ Ein
Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem). This is one of several performances
of Brahms’ choral masterpiece happening this spring. INFO: www.laphil.com
Tonight at 8 p.m.
at Zipper Hall, Los Angeles; Tuesday at 8 p.m. at The Huntington Library, San
Marino
Camerata Pacifica
A sextet of musicians from this group that performs from
Santa Barbara to San Marino will be on hand for the season’s final concert,
offering music by Nino Rota, Philippe Gaubert, Roussel and Brahms. The group is
offering half-price tickets for first-time buyers; call 805/884-8410 for
details. INFO: www.cameratapacifica.org
Saturday at 8 p.m.
at Alex Theater, Glendale; Sunday at 7 p.m. at Royce Hall, UCLA
Los Angeles Chamber
Orchestra; Jeffrey Kahane, conductor, Margaret Batjer, violin
In its final concert of the season, LACO presents the world
premiere of Composer-in-Residence Derek Bemel’s Mar de Setembro (September Sea), performed by Brazilian vocalist
Luciana Souza. This is the latest installment in the orchestra’s “Sound
Investment” commissioning program. Kahane and Batjer are soloists in
Mendelssohn’s Concerto in D minor for Violin and Piano, and the program
concludes with Mozart’s Symphony No. 38 (Prague). INFO: www.laco.org
Sunday at 1 p.m. at
Noor Restaurant’s Sofia Ballroom, Pasadena
California
Philharmonic: “Music, Martinis and the Maestro”
Music Director Victor Vener joins several of his colleagues
in this program that will feature Beethoven’s Archduke Trio and original compositions by Bryan Pezzone and Greg Pore.
INFO: www.calphil.org
And the weekend’s “free admission” program …
Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
at Pasadena Presbyterian Church
Ron McKean, organist
Church organists are among the most prolific improvisers
(their job often requires it) but McKean — Director of Music Ministries at St.
Joseph’s Catholic Church/Old Mission San Jose in Fremont, Calif. — is in a
different category. For the second half of his program, he’ll use a submitted
theme to create a six-movement organ symphony — now that’s improvising! In the first half, he’ll play
three of his own compositions along with music by Bach, Vierne and Hermann Schroeder.
INFO: www.ppc.net
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(c) Copyright 2011, Robert D. Thomas. All rights reserved.
Portions may be quoted with attribution.
